Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition that was initially associated with soldiers who survived war. Witnessing the atrocities of war, losing friends, and suffering from their own actions created traumatic experiences that kept repeating like a broken record in their minds. Today, it is recognized that many people experience this disorder due to many different types of traumatic experiences. There is also a high rate of addiction amongst those with PTSD, a connection that can make healing that much more complicated.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a serious disorder that can impact or disrupt a person’s life. When there is a traumatic event, the brain naturally goes into “fight or flight” mode. Typically, over a short period of time, the brain returns to normal. However, with PTSD, the brain gets “stuck” in this fight or flight mode, and the person can experience reactions as if there were danger or threats to them even when they are perfectly safe.
Symptoms of PTSD can begin as early as three months or may take years to manifest. They may be triggered by a similar event, place, person, or more, or the symptoms may just occur out of the blue. Some of the symptoms include:
- Flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Scary thoughts
- Avoidance of related things
- Feeling tense or nervous
- Being startled easily
- Sleep disruption
- Sudden bursts of anger
- Negative or distorted thoughts
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Difficulty remembering aspects of the incident
- Racing heartbeat
- Breaking out in a sweat
Can Childhood Trauma Cause PTSD?
Many people experience PTSD years after trauma, even trauma that occurred in childhood. Some may have had nightmares or other symptoms yet experience a worsening of symptoms years later. Some of the common traumatic events that can cause PTSD include:
- Death of a loved one
- Witnessing violence at home or in the community
- Natural disaster
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Being bullied
- Accidents or injury
- Chronic or serious illness
Experiencing any of these events as a child can be particularly impactful because children do not necessarily have access to mental health care or the tools needed to process the trauma properly. Many children are ignored when a traumatic event impacts their family or everyone around them because the adults are stressed and trying to problem solve themselves. The fear, pain, and sadness related to trauma may just be kept inside, like a ticking bomb.
How are PTSD and Addiction Connected?
The correlation between PTSD and addiction occurs when a person attempts to self-medicate the pain of their trauma by using alcohol or drugs. This substance use can easily turn to addiction, especially when the body builds up a tolerance to the substance, therefore compelling increased frequency and amount of substance consumption to escape the pain. This correlation is particularly strong with those who experience childhood or adolescent trauma that becomes PTSD.
Another correlation is that drinking or using drugs with PTSD can actually worsen the onset or severity of PTSD symptoms. If both substance use disorder and PTSD are intertwined, they’ll both worsen if not treated.
What Happens with Co-occurring PTSD and Addiction?
When addiction and a mental health disorder such as PTSD both exist simultaneously, they are known as co-occurring disorders. For PTSD and addiction, in addition to having symptoms of both, the symptoms can worsen when they are combined disorders. Additionally, there is an increased risk of chronic health problems, difficulties with social functioning, higher risk of suicide attempts, greater risk of violence, and more.
While a person with co-occurring PTSD and addiction may blame themselves, it is important to remember that both disorders are health conditions occurring as a reaction to external events. Luckily, the symptoms do not have to last forever.
Are PTSD and Addiction Treatable?
Addiction treatment often includes treatment for PTSD as well, especially because they are so commonly co-occurring. While having both disorders does make treatment more complex, they do not make treatment impossible. Treating each disorder separately can be unsuccessful, given how intertwined both disorders can be.
Treating both PTSD and addiction together can be more successful. For one, when receiving therapy to heal from PTSD, it becomes easier to heal from addiction because the initial trauma was often the catalyst for substance abuse, so treating the PTSD takes away the cause of addiction. Treating the addiction simultaneously allows healing of addiction symptoms to facilitate the healing of PTSD. Just as the co-occurring disorders are connected, the treatment and healing of both disorders are connected as well.
PTSD is a severe disorder caused by trauma that can interfere with normal life functions. Often, substance abuse is a co-occurring disorder that may be a result of attempts to self-medicate. However, when both exist simultaneously, each disorder can worsen the symptoms and impact of the other symptoms. While it can feel like a downward spiral, there is hope. Treating both disorders together can help alleviate symptoms from both disorders and help you live your life again. At Rancho Milagro Recovery, we understand the connection between addiction and PTSD. Our compassionate staff can help you to heal from past trauma. Our Southern California ranch is easily accessible and yet remote enough to allow you to heal in seclusion. Call us at (951) 526-4582 to speak to one of our friendly staff members about healing from your PTSD and addiction. We know how to stop the downward spiral and how to help you climb out of co-occurring addiction and PTSD.